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Thursday, February 13, 2020

THERE HERE

CHAFER BEETLE HAS GRABBED A FOOTHOLD IN WHITE ROCK SOUTH SURREY. AND DELTA. WE UNCOVERED THIS DISTURBING SITE WHEN DOING A SOD JOB IN WHITE ROCK



 A FEW YEARS AGO THIS PROBLEM WAS LIMITED TO NEW WESTMINISTER AND VANCOUVER BUT I AM NOW SEEING INFESTATIONS IN OUR LOCAL AREAS. 


RACCOONS AND CROWS LOVE THESE LITTLE GUYS AND WILL TEAR UP YOUR LAWN TO GET THEM. 




FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NEW PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO TREAT THIS PROBLEM  

   CONTACT YOUR LOCAL LAWN CARE PROFESSIONAL TO SET UP A PROGRAM FOR YOUR LAWN .







Monday, July 2, 2018

ADDING CURB APPEAL TO YOUR HOUSE




 Image result for RED LANDSCAPE FEATURESImage result for red shrubs
For a simple way to ramp up your curb appeal, add pops of color, especially red, which is the number one color to jazz up your space

Image result for red shrubs


If you can't insert a cool red door colorfull shrubs or flowers are an inexpensive way to add pizzaz to a green
background of old foundation planting



Image result for red annual flowersImage result for red perennial flowersImage result for red perennial flowers

Monday, March 13, 2017

REPAIR WINTER HEDGE DAMAGE



BEFORE
The 2017 winter and snow was hard on our west coast cedar hedges. especially the pyramidalis variety Topping and careful tying are neccessary to stabalize the hedge and ensure proper growth habit.




BEFORE

AFTER









                                       AFTER













Its important to repair hedges as soon as possible after snow damage to prevent branch snapping

A proper evergreen fertilizer applied after repair will help your hedge to fill
in after a major topping



This hedge was severely compromised by the winter
snow as the owner was away on holidays and unable to brush snow off, We were able to repair it with only a
25% reduction in height


AFTER
                      CONTACT YOUR LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL 
                      TO AVOID COSTLY HEDGE REPLACEMENT 










Thursday, January 14, 2016

2015 BC Horticultural Show

I always try to check out all the industry trade shows to see what the newest and latest trends are in the green industry. Last years show
in Abbotsford delivered a couple of interesting tidbits
Artificial Turf has some serious issues.
Besides its high cost there are a lot of other concerns that should make homeowners think twice before replacing  their lawn     Personally
I've had a couple of my customers complain about staining and burned spots

A new idea combining composting and vertical gardening caught my attention This box would look great on your patio or deck. and would provide you with a show garden and a place to get rid of your green kitchen waste I met the inventor of this box and was totally impressed with his concept combining urban gardening and composting. In addition these boxes are constructed locally and the quality of the woodwork is superb. They can even use wood from fallen trees on your property in the construction

 Finally the highlight of the show. What this has to do with gardening I don't know. But this 56 Pontiac threw me down memory lane. This was the first car I ever owned . I paid $ 20
yes twenty bucks for a less pristine model this car when I was 15 years old
 
I

Sunday, March 15, 2015

COMING TO A LAWN NEAR YOU ( YOU HOPE NOT )

EUROPEAN SCHAFER BEETLE IS ON THE MARCH . FIRST SPOTTED IN NEW WESTMINISTER IN 2001 THIS UNWELCOME EUROPEAN IMMIGRANT IS SLOWLY SPREADING ACROSS THE LOWWER MAINLAND  LEAVING A TRAIL OF RUINED LAWNS IN ITS WAKE
 I NOTICED A PATH OF DESTRUCTION ALONG CAMBIE STREET ON MY WAY TO A TRADE SHOW IN VANCOUVER LAST MONTH . I'AM NOT TALKING A FEW BLOCKS. THIS WENT ON FOR MILE AFTER MILE, BOULEVARDS AND RESIDENTIAL LOTS ALIKE

 

             YIKES!


ALONG WITH ITS COUSIN THE EUROPEAN CRANE FLY LARVA

 AKA" LEATHERJACKET"

THESE GRUBS CAN TAKE OUT A LAWN IN A WEEK-END LEAVING THE CROWS PICKING THROUGH THE CHAFF

A WELL MAINTAINED HEALTHY LAWN IS YOUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST

THESE CRITTERS

                                                                                      

                                                                                       . 

IF YOU NOTICE GRUB DAMAGED LAWNS IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 

THE INTRODUCTION OF BENEFICIAL NEMETODES  CAN HELP CONTROL THE POPULATION OF DESTRUCTIVE LARVA IN YOUR LAWN 

I BELIEVE PRO-ACTIVE HOMEOWNERS  CAN AVOID A COSTLY LAWN REPLACEMENT BY WORKING WITH LAWN CARE PROFESSIONALS

TO MAKE SURE THEIR LAWN IS WELL NOURISHED , AERATED, AND FREE OF EXCESSIVE THATCH

Saturday, February 7, 2015

OUTDOOR LIVING

When traveling through the wine
country in Washington State we
noticed a few wineries with wood burning pizza ovens. They were used for wine events and private entertaining. Great conversation pieces and amazing pizzas from the 800 degree temperatures produced




What a great alternative to the traditional outdoor barbecue which can be very pricey with the granite tops. Check out the fireplace in this one.I know I want one of these babies in my yard.


Ok maybe this is more  my budget


          more pics of pizza ovens
 if there is any money left in the kitty
How about an outdoor sauna

"Read what the experts are saying:
Sauna Therapy for Detoxification and Healing by Lawrence Wilson Infrared sauna therapy is one of the least costly, safest and most powerful ways to eliminate toxic metals, toxic chemicals and infections."


Tuesday, January 20, 2015

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CEDAR

When choosing the right type of cedar tree to plant
in your yard the first consideration is...
Why am I planting this hedge and what are the
site conditions in the planting area to be hedged
how much sun is available and what are the soil
and drainage like.Are you planting for noise
reduction and privacy or purely esthetic reasons
A cedar hedge is a long term investment in your
yard and becomes a valuable landscape feature
when it matures. After deciding on the type of
cedar you want make sure they are properly
planted in well drained soil with bone meal.
The hedge should be watered with a soaker hose
the first summer untill the roots are established.














                                                                                                                                    

 Thuja plicata (Wester Red Cedar) is a fast-growing conifer hedge.
It forms a dense evergreen hedge of any height and size if it is trimmed regularly.
 Thuja foliage has a pleasant, apple aroma when crushed.
 Can be cut back into old wood and will re-shoot.
 In a cold winter the foliage turns a bronze colour.
Any free-draining soil in sun or partial shade.
Rate of growth: up to 75cm (2'6") per yea
From the Western Red Cedar family, the Excelsa
Cedar is a tall and wide growing cedar.
 It can reach heights of over 30 feet in the long run
and can grow as wide as 10-15 feet. It is a moderate
to fast growing tree (2-3’ per year) that maintains a steady pyramid shape.It is a great tree (‘two story’ privacy tree) alternative to smaller, slower growing white cedars if a privacy hedge is desired in less time. It acts as a great windbreak and is deer resistant. It is suitable in urban, rural and semi-rural environments.The Excelsa Cedar has a rich, dark evergreen foliage that may turn slightly golden in

Winter do to the cold. It grows well in all soil types and prefers moist climates.The Excelsa Cedar is hearty in zones 5-8.Other Names: Thuja Plicata, Western Red Cedar, Aborvitae Excelsa

PRO  GROWS WELL IN PARTIAL SHADE
         FAST GROWING  / GOOD FOR NOISE BARRIER AND WINDBREAK
         DISEASE RESISTANT
CON:
         REQUIRES  MORE TRIMMING

Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald', also called 'Smaragd' This is my choice for most of the plantings I do because of its lower maintenance requirements and dark green foliage.   This hedge will tolerate partial shade and doesn’t grow as wide as the Western Red.

Make sure you don’t plant trees too closely together  (1.5 to 2 ft ) spacing’s between tree centres for 5’ft to 6 ft specimens




 'Smaragd' is the ultimate low-maintenance hedging plant. Planted in a row, the top can be trimmed to the height required but the sides of the trees will never need trimming. Thuja 'Emerald' is evergreen and forms a neat screen of dense dark green foliage.  It is very hardy and wind tolerant.  It is not used very often in the UK as a screen but is commonly used in the USA where temperature extremes are much greater than here. Any free draining soil in sun or partial shade. Rate of growth: up to 45cm (18 inches) per year.
The emerald green arborvitae, also known as an eastern white cedar, is an evergreen tree characterized by its dark green foliage. The cedar grows in just about any soil they are planted in and grow well in areas that are subject to high atmospheric moisture. They grow best in full sun.They are most commonly used to create privacy screens and noise barriers due to their tendency to grow thick/dense. Emerald Cedars are very low maintenance tree that require pruning only once per year.At maturity the Emerald Cedar can reach heights above 20 feet growing at a typical rate of roughly one vertical foot and 4-6” of horizontal width per year. They usually grow in a pyramid shape The emerald Cedar is hearty in zones 3-7.Other Names: Smaragd, Emerald green arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis ‘smaragd’.

PRO:
        LOW MAINTENANCE
CON:
        MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER VARIETALS
        NOT AS DISEASE RESISTANT AS OTHER VARIETALS






The Pyramidalis cedar is a multi-stemmed columnar white cedar that grows tall and lean to a maximum height of around 20 feet and a maximum horizontal spread of 7-8’. It has a shallower green colour foliage than the Emerald cedar and stays evergreen all year long. It prunes well and is a relatively low maintenance cedar.
Like the Emerald, the Pyramidalis cedar prefers full sun and average levels of atmospheric moisture. It is not very picky in terms of soil type or pH level it grows in and is quite tolerant of urban pollution making it a great privacy cedar tree along busy streets.The Pyramidalis Cedar is hearty in zones 3-
PRO:
        GROWS WELL ALONG DRIVEWAYS AND ROADS
        LIGHTER GREEN COLORS SETS THEM APART FROM OTHER CEDARS
        CAN MAKE AN INTERESTING SPECIMEN HEDGE
        WHERE NOISE AND PRIVACY IS NOT AN ISSUE
CON:
        REQUIRES MORE LIGHT THAN OTHER VARIETALS TO MAINTAIN EVEN FOILAGE
         BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE STEMS IS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SNOW DAMAGE